Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Florida Governor Finally Tells Spring Breakers That The 'Party's Over' After Numerous Calls To Shut Down Beaches Over Coronavirus Concerns

Florida Governor Finally Tells Spring Breakers That The 'Party's Over' After Numerous Calls To Shut Down Beaches Over Coronavirus Concerns
@CBSnews/Twitter; @AlexJungle2/Twitter

The cancellation of spring break in Florida was inevitable with the entire globe put on pause during the coronavirus pandemic.

Or so people thought.


Photos of Florida's crowded beaches were seen across the internet causing anger and disbelief. Allowing tens of thousands of college and high school aged students to ignore public health warnings from the CDC was labeled a cash grab.

The state's GOP governor was accused of putting a priority on tourism dollars over the lives of Floridians.

But on Thursday, Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis finally announced the "party's over" after getting slammed for keeping beaches, bars and other meeting spots open for days.

People were outraged over the amount of time it took for the Governor to announce his decision.


The Republican Governor told Fox & Friends:

"The message I think for spring breakers is that the party's over in Florida."

You can watch the interview in the clip, below.

Gov. DeSantis to Florida spring breakers: 'The party's over'youtu.be


"You're not going to be able to congregate on any beach in the state. Many of the hot spots that people like to go to, whether it's Miami beach, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater Beach are closed entirely for the time being."
"We would tell those folks maybe come back next year when things are better, but that is not what we're looking for."


Footage of spring breakers cramming the beaches went viral despite everyone being told to adopt social distancing guidelines in an effort to contain the virus.

For Clearwater Beach, it was business as usual last week.

However, DeSantis claimed that any footage of the crowded beaches from Saturday were from before the CDC's guidance limiting the congregation of groups of 250 or more.

By Monday, that guidance was lowered to a restriction of groups with no more than ten people.




With many institutions shut down—including a nearly unprecedented closure of Walt Disney World in its nearly 50-year history—Chuck Smithson, who was visiting from Ohio, took his family to the beach after discovering Mickey had drawn up the castle's drawbridge indefinitely.

Before DeSantis made his announcement about closing the beaches, Smithson told 10News.

"We were supposed to go to Disney, actually, the day they closed it."
"I'm shocked the beaches aren't shut down. I mean we need something to do, other than sit inside, but I'm shocked the beaches aren't shut down."

Despite the social distancing directive, Smithson was among thousands of other vacationers and college students who refused to let any crisis put a damper on their hedonistic agendas.

One reveler said:

"If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I'm not gonna let it stop me from partying."


These youngsters fail to comprehend they are likely to spread the virus—despite their strong immune systems—to their grandparents or other people who are more susceptible to catching and dying from COVID-19.


@PW_Fandom/Twitter

DeSantis did say he would not close down every beach in the sunshine state to groups of less than 10 people, but mentioned that the ones remaining open will have to abide by the CDC's virus prevention guidelines.

He added:

"Regardless of local decisions, you're not going to be able to congregate like those images that you saw."
"That's just not something that we are going to allow and so you want to work constructively with the locals to get the best solutions."

Still, Florida's beachgoers are not panicked.



Their lack of awareness incited condemnation from social media and politicians like the governor's predecessor and fellow Republican, Florida Senator Rick Scott.

He issued a stern order for the spring breakers turning a blind eye to the crisis.

"Get off the beach."

The former governor—who put himself in self-quarantine after meeting with a Brazilian government aide at Mar-a-Lago who tested positive for COVID-19—told CNN's John Berman on New Day:

"What are you thinking about by being on the beach around all these people that might have coronavirus and you're going to go home and potentially infect the people you love the most."
"What are you thinking? Stop doing it now!"

Some people think the beach closures were too late.




For spring breakers lamenting their lost opportunity for frivolity, they will have to wait until next year.

More from News

Gerika Mudra; Buffalo Wild Wings
Gender Justice/YouTube; Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lesbian Teen Sues Buffalo Wild Wings After Server Forced Her To Prove She Was Female In Bathroom

A Minnesota teen is suing Buffalo Wild Wings after a server allegedly made her "prove" she was female to use the bathroom.

Eighteen-year-old lesbian Gerika Mudra filed a discrimination suit against the wings chain earlier this month claiming that the server forced her to show her her breasts after accusing her of being male.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brandon Johnson; Donald Trump
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Chicago Mayor Offers Perfect Clapback Response After Trump Calls Him 'Incompetent'

When someone is petty and childish, people of grace and dignity may try to ignore their words. But sometimes others demand a response.

Such is what happened to the mayor of Chicago, Illinois.

Keep ReadingShow less
Markwayne Mullin
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

MAGA Senator Reveals How He Breaks The Law While Driving Due To Fears Of DC Crime—And Yikes

Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin was swiftly criticized after he revealed on Fox News that he breaks the law while driving in Washington, D.C., to avoid getting carjacked.

Mullins remarks came as President Donald Trump federalized D.C.'s police force and deployed about 800 National Guard troops to the nation’s capital this week, saying crime in D.C. is "out of control" despite falling crime rates.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tim Burchett
Al Drago/Getty Images

MAGA Rep. Ripped For Changing Story About Why He Sleeps In His DC Office To Fit Trump Agenda

Tennessee Republican Representative Tim Burchett was criticized for claiming that he "lives" in his office because of crime in Washington, D.C., even though he gave a completely different reason earlier this year to explain how he maintains productivity.

Burchett's remarks came as President Donald Trump federalized the Metropolitan Police and deployed about 800 National Guard troops to the nation’s capital this week while claiming crime in D.C. is "out of control" despite falling crime rates.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man smiling at a woman looking down.
woman reading book
Photo by Hello Revival on Unsplash

Women Break Down The Biggest Mistakes Single Men Make When Flirting

It isn't always easy for a single woman to enjoy a night out on her own.

Be it at a bar, in a store, or merely sitting on a park bench, they frequently catch the attention of a single man.

Keep ReadingShow less